HOLIDAY ARTS PREVIEW: Need a little Christmas? We can help

Dana Barbuto The Patriot Ledger

Wednesday

Nov 21, 2018 at 10:55 AMNov 21, 2018 at 10:59 AM

Is the Ghost of Christmas Present rattling your chain to go see “A Christmas Carol”? Do you need to hear “Hallelujah!”? Or do you prefer a holiday chestnut like the “Nutcracker”? Whatever makes you feel the spirit, “yule” have choices galore between Thanksgiving and Christmas. From Boston and beyond, we’ve got your holiday entertainment fix.

DASHING THROUGH THE SHOWS

Seeing a holiday stage show is as much a part of the holiday season as carols and cookies, and this year’s lineup has some enchanting choices.

The Company Theater in Norwell presents a different Dickens tale of love and redemption in the musical “Oliver!” Artful Dodger, Fagin and a gang of child pickpockets will steal your heart, Nov. 23-Dec. 16 at the Company Theater, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell; companytheatre.com.

Giving off a radiant holiday glow, New Orleans-based Lightwire Theater brings its “A Very Electric Christmas” spectacle to Boston for some in-the-dark fun. The troupe, a finalist on “America’s Got Talent” mixes electroluminescent artistry, poignant storytelling and music ranging from Tchaikovsky to Mariah Carey, to deliver a unique family-friendly holiday show. The lights go out Nov. 24 at the Emerson Colonial Theater, 106 Boylston St., Boston; emersoncolonialtheatre.com

In “How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” sing and dance along with the Mean One as he tries to ruin Christmas for all the Who’s in Whoville. Tony Award-nominated Broadway actor Gavin Lee, last seen in as the tap-dancing show stopper Squidward Tentacles in "SpongeBob SquarePants" stars in the title role. Nov. 28-Dec. 9 at the Boch Center Wang Theater, 270 Tremont St., Boston, bochcenter.org.

Charles M. Schulz’s beloved animated special "A Charlie Brown Christmas" has been around since 1965. The classic cartoon comes to life this holiday season with all the magic, music and charm of the original. The touring production, “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage,” features everyone’s favorite Peanuts gang – Linus, Lucy, Snoopy, Sally, and more, all led by the lovable Charlie Brown – as they discover the true meaning of Christmas. Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at the Boch Center Shubert Theater, 265 Tremont St., Boston, bochcenter.org.

"Elf: The Musical" is based on the 2003 hit holiday comedy starring Will Ferrell as a human raised by elves at the North Pole. If you're familiar with the movie (and who's not, considering that it's on a constant loop in December?), then you'll be pleased that the musical sticks closely to the plot, hitting all the high notes (literally; this is a musical). Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 at the Hanover Theater, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester; thehanovertheatre.org.

Leave it to Ryan Landry's lauded fringe troupe, the Gold Dust Orphans, to upend the holiday season in all the right ways with its irreverent Christmas musical, "A Nightmare on Elf Street," which sees the return of the “world's greatest "she-tective" Shirley Holmes. The usual madness and mirth go down Nov. 29 to Dec. 23 at the Machine Nightclub, 1254 Boylston St., Boston. facebook.com/golddustorphans/

The Reagle Music Theatre’s annual “ChristmasTime” is a musical spectacle with a full orchestra, Santa’s workshop, Victorian carolers, elves, a parade of wooden soldiers and a living nativity pageant. Dec. 1-9 at 617 Lexington St., Waltham, reaglemusictheatre.org.

See "The Velveteen Rabbit," the classic children's book by Margery Williams, performed by the Boston Children's Theatre from Dec. 1-15 at the Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont St., Boston, bostonchildrenstheatre.org.‎

In “A Christmas Story,” the Massasoit Theatre Company presents an adaptation of the 1983 film that grew into a cult classic. Based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd, the show features many of the time-honored trappings from the film, including the fish-net adorned leg lamp, the pink bunny suit and the triple dog dare. Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 7-9 at the Buckley Performing Arts Center, 1 Massasoit Boulevard, Brockton. massasoit.edu/boxoffice.

Gingerbread men flip midair. Toy soldiers march on thin wires while snowmen and penguins balance, jump and spin. It’s all part of “Cirque Dreams Holidaze,” Broadway director Neil Goldberg’s psychedelic acrobatic re-imagining of the most wonderful time of the year. The fever-dream of a show celebrates the season with more than 300 costumes, 20 acts and 30 performers from 12 countries, who twirl, bounce and soar through the air to original music and seasonal favorites brought to life within a stage setting of gigantic gifts, colossal candy canes and 30-foot towering trees. Dec. 4-9 at the Boch Center Shubert Theater, 265 Tremont St., Boston, bochcenter.org.

A cast of 75 tells the Nativity story through singing, dancing, the Gospel of St. Luke and the poetry of Langston Hughes in “Black Nativity,” Fridays-Sundays, Dec. 7-23 at Paramount Theater, 559 Washington St., Boston; blacknativity.org.

Ireland and Christmas seem to go together - maybe it's all the green - in "A Christmas Celtic Sojourn." In its 16th season, the show is a local crowd-pleaser with its dynamic musical and dance performances. Hosted with easy charm by WGBH's Brian O'Donovan, the show also features young Scottish phenom Hannah Rarity and the steppers from the Harney Academy of Irish Dance in Walpole. Dec. 12-22 at Cutler Majestic Theatre, 219 Tremont St., Boston; Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester; Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main St., Rockport; the Zeiterion Theatre, 684 Purchase St., New Bedford; and Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 1 Ave of the Arts, Providence, R.I., wgbh.org.

For 48 years and counting, the Christmas Revels is one of the best-loved traditions of the winter holiday season in Boston. Using myth, story, song and dance, this year’s theme is Nordic, exploring the music and winter rituals of Scandinavia and beyond. Songs, folk tales and carols from Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland will be performed by the Revels Chorus and guest artists. Dec. 14-29 at Harvard University's Sanders Theater, 45 Quincy St., Cambridge, revels.org

Boston Children’s Theater presents “Madeline’s Christmas,” a musical based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans, in which 12 little girls at a Paris boarding school get the flu just before Christmas and may not make it home until Madeline meets a rug merchant with magic carpets. Dec. 20-23 at the Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont St., Boston, bostonchildrenstheatre.org.‎

CHRISTMAS SPIRITS

What's Christmas without Charles Dickens' seasonal favorite, "A Christmas Carol"? Shed your inner Scrooge and see the classic story of greed and redemption performed by a handful of regional troupes.

This version of the Charles Dickens story features puppetry, dancing, live music, and takes place in Victorian London and the “London of today.” You’ll leave the theater with your heart overflowing with good cheer. Debra Wise directs. Nov. 23-Dec. 30 at Central Square Theater, Cambridge. Performances are co-productions by Underground Railway Theater and Nora Theatre Company, 450 Mass Ave., Cambridge, centralsquaretheater.org.

There's a good reason to drive to Beverly: the 27th annual production of "A Christmas Carol" at the North Shore Music Theatre. The troupe has found the perfect balance of music, special effects and good old-fashioned storytelling. David Coffee returns yet again as Scrooge in a production that's become a true, enduring holiday tradition that runs from Dec. 7-23, 2 Dunham Road, Beverly, nsmt.org.

Go for tradition when Troy Siebels and his troupe present what they call the region’s “largest production” of their lavish and innovative adaptation of the Dickens classic, but stay for the music, namely the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, New England's largest theater pipe organ containing more than 2,400 pipes. Jeremy Lawrence (“The Blacklist” and “Shades of Blue”) returns as Scrooge. Dec. 15-23, Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester; thehanovertheatre.org.

Like the ghosts of Christmases past, the Dickens classic is a timeless tale that never loses its meaning, especially in the hands of the talented Trinity Repertory Company. Through Dec. 30, 201 Washington St., Providence, trinityrep.com.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s romantic score, the “Nutcracker” ballet is a whimsical Christmas fantasy that tells the story of a little girl, Clara, who flies off to a magical land when her nutcracker doll comes to life. With such a fairy-tale story line, it’s no wonder “The Nutcracker” has become a holiday tradition, not to mention one of the few ballets to enjoy mainstream popularity. You can get your fill of sugar plum fairies and magical princes with several productions of "The Nutcracker."

The best-known Boston-area production of the holiday favorite is Boston Ballet's opulent spectacle. It runs at the Opera House for 41 performances, Nov. 29 to Dec. 30. Said to be the world's most popular production of the ballet, this version, in its 53rd year, features a robust children's cast and world-class dancing by company dancers. About 90,000 patrons will see the production between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The familiar Tchaikovsky score is played by the critically acclaimed Boston Ballet Orchestra, led by new Music Director Mischa Santora. This year artistic director Mikko Nissinen is making some changes to the Chinese divertissement. Dancing the plum role of Clara is every young ballerina’s dream. Rotating the part are: Mia Steedle of Weston, Emma Blake of Belvidere, N.J., and Emily Kneussle of Cadyville, N.Y. Stepping into the mischievous shoes of Fritz are Henry Madden of Roxbury, Seiya Saneyoshi of Lexington and Trey Stout of Swampscott. The Boston Opera House is at 539 Washington St., Boston. Bostonballet.org

Just down the street, the Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre presents its 33rd season of "The Nutcracker." As choreographer, Mateo has always put the focus squarely on the dancing. The story of the young heroine Clara's dream journey through a holiday-season fairyland, guided by the mysterious and charming Nutcracker Prince, is pared to its essentials, yet it tells the story very effectively and accessibly. With more than 200 local children in the cast, this unpretentious production is a perfect example of what a community cultural event should be. Dancing in the plum role of Clara on a rotating basis are Alexandra Kellie, 14, of Arlington, Kennedy Luce-Burke, 13, of Winchester, and Delia Wada-Gill, 17, of Lexington. The ballet runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 9 at the Cutler Majestic Theatre, 219 Tremont St., Boston and from Dec. 14 to 23 at the Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Road, Dorchester, ballettheatre.org.

A totally original take on this perennial holiday extravaganza is the "Urban Nutcracker," where Tchaikovsky meets Duke Ellington, tap and hip-hop in an urban-inspired mash-up presented by the new dance company, City Ballet of Boston, by choreographer Tony Williams. A former Boston Ballet dancer, Williams created the “Urban Nutcracker” 18 years ago. This year he’s changed the name of lead character from Clarice to Ruby to honor his late aunt. The show features Ruby and her Nutcracker guide exploring iconic Boston scenes, such as Make Way for Ducklings, Top of the Hub, Chinatown and the Boston Public Garden. The production will also be set to live music, another first for this season. Tap dancer Khalid Hill joins the production as a special guest artist. Dec. 20-30 at the Boch Center Shubert Theater, 265 Tremont St., Boston, rbannutcracker.com.

The students from Ballet Arts in Worcester present a "Nutcracker" with professional production values. Nov. 23-25, Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester; thehanovertheatre.org.

The national touring production of the acclaimed "The Hip Hop Nutcracker" dances into town for a pair of performances that merge modern dance moves with Tchaikovsky's whimsical score. Dec. 14-15 at Emerson Colonial Theater, 106 Boylston St., Boston, emersoncolonialtheatre.com.

Holiday pops concerts offer a symphony of holiday treats. And while the Boston Pops might be the granddaddy of them all, there are plenty of other options.

For the Holiday Pops, maestro Keith Lockhart wears a stocking cap, Symphony Hall is decorated in festive finery, a different guest each night narrates “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and everyone joins a sing-along at the finale of a great party that was started in 1973 and still going strong. Dec. 6- Dec. 31, Symphony Hall, 301 Mass. Ave., Boston, bso.org.

Guest Conductor Elijah Langille leads the Parkway Concert Orchestra in two performances of classical and holiday pops favorites for the entire family, including Waltz of the Flowers, “A Children's Overture” by Roger Quilter, Christmas at the Movies and Wassail Dances. Dec. 2 at St. Mary’s Parish, 205 Washington S., East Walpole and Dec. 9 at First Congregational Church, 100 Winter St., Norwood, parkwayconcertorchestra.org.

Cynthia Woods leads the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra in a performance of traditional carols and other orchestral selections, including John Williams‘ Star Wars suite, Dec. 8 at the Center for the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville, cambridgesymphony.org.

The Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra turns the Grand Ballroom at Milford Town Hall into a winter wonderland of sight and sound. Under the direction of Paul Surapine, the show features holiday chestnuts like “Sleigh Ride,” “Stille Nacht” and other favorites. Dec. 8, 52 Main St., Milford, claflinhill.com.

The Concord Orchestra, conducted by Richard Pittman, presents a Holiday Family Concert on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. with another performance at 4 p.m. Joyce Kulhawik narrates, and the Westford Academy Honors Orchestra joins. The performance concludes with a sing-along of holiday music. www.concordorchestra.com.

Join the Lexington Symphony Orchestra, directed by Jonathan McPhee, as it puts a new twist on holiday music Dec. 7 at 4 and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. Join us for this growing Lexington tradition! www.lexingtonsymphony.org/2018-19-season .

“Celebrations!” is the title of Newton’s New Philharmonia’s Dec. 16 holiday concert, at 3 p.m., featuring the Boston Ballet School and Newton All City Treble Singers. newphil.org

MERRY MUSIC

Do you hear what I hear? It’s a stocking full of holiday songs. Whether it’s a rousing rendition of “Jingle Bells,” a quieter “Silent Night,” or the sexy “Santa Baby,” music is as much a part of the season as mistletoe, fruitcake and candy canes.

The Tedeschi-Trucks Band, featuring the most famous Norwell Clipper, Susan Tedeschi, and her husband, Derek Trucks, and their dozen-piece band, takes over Boston's Orpheum Theatre, 1 Hamilton Place, for three nights, Nov. 29 to Dec. 1; crossroadspresents.com

It wouldn’t be the Christmas season without a visit by Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller. Two performances will take place Dec. 8 at the Emerson Colonial Theater, 106 Boylston St., Boston; emersoncolonialtheatre.com.

Canada's "greatest" export, The Trailer Park Boys, are hitting the road over the holidays with their A Sunnyvale Christmas. Dec. 9 at the Orpheum Theatre, Boston.

Old 97’s Holiday Extravanganza, with Caseymagic and Rhett Miller, is Dec. 9 at the Sinclair, 52 Church St., Cambridge, sinclaircambridge.com.

The ninth annual Celebration of Wintery Songs in Eleventy Part Harmony with Jennifer Kimball and friends is Dec. 18-19 at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Cambridge, passim.org, and Dec. 20 at the Center for the Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St.; natickarts.org.

Celebrate Christmas in 15th century France and Burgundy with the Blue Heron Choir, Dec. 21-22 at First Church, 11 Garden St., Cambridge; blueheron.org.

Christmas carols and festive holiday music will be sung by the Neponset Choral Society in “Winter Reflections,” Dec. 8-9 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 116 South St., Foxboro. ncschorus.org.

The Boston Camerata offers two early music holiday programs throughout Greater Boston this December: Puer Natus Est, an intimate candlelit glimpse of Christmas from Medieval France, Italy, England, and Provence; and Gloria! An Italian Christmas, with virtuoso voices and instruments performing magnificent Italian works of the Renaissance and early Baroque. Performances take place December 7-17 in Cambridge, Brookline, Lexington, Newburyport, and Boston. bostoncamerata.org

‘MESSIAH’

If you’ve never seen Handel and Haydn Society perform live, then Christmas is the time to do so. The performance of Handel’s “Messiah” is a 165-year-old tradition, running Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. Bernard Labadie, a leading conductor of 18th-century music, takes the podium. The society journeys through Christmas past with “A Baroque Christmas,” Dec. 13 and Dec. 16, at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston; handelandhaydn.org.

Boston Baroque will ring in the Christmas Season once again with Handel's beloved “Messiah.” Soprano Layla Claire, countertenor Eric Jurenas, and tenor Norman Shankle make their Boston Baroque debuts. They are joined by bass-baritone Nathan Stark, alongside the Grammy-nominated Boston Baroque Orchestra and Chorus. Martin Pearlman conducts. This year's concert will be Dec. 8 and Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston; bostonbaroque.org

HANUKKAH FUN

"Jewmongous" is a raucous concert (leave the kids at home) of songs about "the Christian Hanukkah" by Sean Altman, Dec. 24 at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Cambridge; passim.org.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, celebrates Hanukkah with a slate of free activities from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Dec. 5. Activities include tours of the museum’s Judaica Collection, a community menorah lighting and arts and crafts; 465 Huntington Ave., mfa.org.

Dana Barbuto may be reached at dbarbuto@ledger.com or follow her on Twitter @dbarbuto_Ledger.